Pakistan and Foreign Coaches

Rashid Latif makes some interesting points about how the practices of foreign coaches may not be suitable to the needs of subcontinental players. While, in a way it does seem a tad illogical to me, but then this image of Kamran Akmal pops up: doing leg raises with his flip-flop chappals on. Maybe Rashid Latif has a point?

I still continue to feel that aren't players just players? Maybe the Pakistani players are a little bit behind in the fitness game when they start in professional cricket, but do they really have different needs? I'll have to think about that.

Akmal: flash in the pan or here to stay?

Osman Samiuddin has conducted a fairly frank and open interview with Wasim Bari, and despite my musings in a previous post, even he has seen Rashid Latif as an important enough figure to seek out his opinion regarding Kamran Akmal. Anyone wonder what happened to Saleem Yousuf? Rather hear him than Rashid Latif!

What I found interesting in the interview was that neither Wasim Bari nor Rashid Latif feel that this is going to be more than a brief slump for Kamran Akmal. Both seem to favour a break for him, away from the pressure cooker, feeling that might help his confidence and might help to focus him again. I just hope that if that does happen, its not done in a way which makes Kamran feel that his job is up for grabs. He is too good a long-term prospect, and potentially could even be a captain of the squad, such is his presence and place in the squad. I would hate to see him go.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, wicketkeeping, wasim bari, rashid latif, kamran akmal

Whatever Rashid Latif!

I find this amusing beyond belief! In making comments about Kamran Akmal's wicketkeeping during the second test, Rashid Latif says the most hilarious thing!

Anyone who has watched Pakistan play in the last year has noted that while Kamran Akmal is definitely one of the most talented young wicketkeepers in the game, he has repeatedly struggled behind the wickets, often dropping what should be fairly regulation catches. Further, his other strength, his batting has also suffered, and it was just a few weeks ago that many nay-sayers were asking for him to be dropped from the team all together, and for who? Zulqarnain Haider, heard of him recently?

Well, the comment from Latif I found hilarious was this one: "When I and Moin had problems we used to take a break from international cricket. We preferred to play domestic cricket and worked on basics to overcome technical flaws. We tried to get back concentration and confidence to stage a comeback." Anyone who watched cricket during the 90's and the early part of the decade knows without a shadow of a doubt, that the only reason either one of Rashid Latif or Moin Khan took a break was because the settlers were too busy being their usual crazy selves. Neither one of Moin Khan nor Rashid Latif was given any kind of a run, because each one of them spent their entire careers falling in and out of favour. For Rashid Latif to dress it up into some kind of personal quest for perfection is hilarious!

By the way, would someone tell me why reporters are interviewing Rashid Latif of all people?!